Title: Blues In The Night
Author: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Nick/Gil
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just visiting friends.

Nick slowly rolled over and looked at the clock. He made out the  time to be 3:15 a.m. He sighed softly and rose from the bed, knowing he probably wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon. This wasn't the first time this had happened, and it most likely wouldn't be the last.

He made his way through the dark house to the kitchen and retrieved a cold bottle of water and went into the living room. He peeked out the front window and stood transfixed watching the lights of Las Vegas glittering in the valley below. Somewhere out there his man was either investigating a crime scene, or he was at the lab doing his thing.

Nick hated times like these because Gil was usually nowhere to be found, and while he understood that Gil had to work, it would be nice is just once he were here to hold Nick when he got in one of these funks. Of course if Nick would tell Gil what was going on, he might not have these nights when all the old doubts and old issues came out to play.

Therein lay the rub. Nick was afraid to talk to Gil about all the old stuff. He didn't want to appear weak in front of Gil because Gil was one of the strongest people Nick knew. It embarrassed him to think that Gil would think less of him. Granted, Gil had seen him at some of his lowest points, and most embarrassing moments, but that knowing that didn't help Nick where this was concerned.

There were times, like now, when Nick remembered all the doubts he had about approaching Gil about his feelings for him, and all the things, both real and imagined, that Nick felt Gil would find wrong with being with him. Although they had worked past nearly every one of the issues, they would still come back to Nick from time to time. Nick was still afraid that Gil would see through everything and leave him for someone who had their shit together.

The more Nick thought about it the worse he felt. He was on the verge of picking up the phone and calling Gil when Gil's car pulled into the drive. Nick was a bit confused, and waited for Gil to come in and explain. Gil looked a bit startled when Nick turned on a lamp as he came in the front door.

"Nick, what's wrong, babe?"

"Nothing, Peanut, I just couldn't sleep. You're home early."

"Yeah, slow night at the lab. I left Catherine in charge and decided to surprise you."

"I'm kinda glad you did....."

"What's going on?"

Nick went on to explain what he was really doing up, and after all was said and done, he was really glad he did. Gil was more understanding than Nick thought he would be, and Nick also found out that Gil had his own demons about them to deal with. Like Nick, the old doubts and fear would haunt Gil when things seemed to be going really good for them.

Gil explained to Nick that he finally realized that if Nick was going to leave, he would have done so long ago, and that this realization is what got him through those times when he doubted. Nick agreed to give it a try, and Gil also told him that he wanterd Nick to come to him the very next time the old doubts and fears showed up so they could work through the funk together. He also told Nick that he didn't think less of him because of this. Nick came to understand that Gil wasn't making fun of him, but telling him that everbody was weak from time to time.

Gilk just wanted Nick to understand that they were in this together, and that Nick didn't have to carry this load all alone. Gil also felt that once Nick realized that he was there to help him through, things just might be alright.

End